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| Knoxville Residents Upset with City Council |
POSTED 9:50pm 6/15/09 A number of Knoxville residents showed up at the Knoxville City Council meeting to voice their displeasure at the council granting a variance request to another resident. Members of the Knoxville community Monday night took turns explaining to the council members their objections to a variance that was granted back in April for the construction of an attached garage at a residence at 743 Prairie View Road.
John Taylor, the resident at 743 Prairie View, during the April 20th council meeting was granted the variance despite a recommendation by the Zoning Board of Appeals to deny the request, after additional information was reviewed by the council during that meeting.
Residents including Dan Jansen, a neighbor to 743 Prairie View, said the council was running around chasing their tails on this issue and says the council keeps, "blowing them (residents) off."
Jansen tells WGIL Taylor's garage will pose a hazard to people on the block.
"He wants to build a 24 by 26 garage - it's going to be 26 feet from the street and will limit visibility down the street"
Knoxville City Attorney Wayne Statham said since the variance was granted and permit issued, the city cannot take back the permit unless Taylor violates terms of the building permit. Jansen, who's wife Stacey became emotional during the interview, tells WGIL he hopes the council, and Statham knows what they are doing.
"It's my kids that will be playing in that neighborhood so if Mr. Statham's good enough as the City's counsel, I hope he's good enough for mine if my kids get hit."
A neighbor across the street, Stan Miller, says he and his wife have spoken to Bernadine Fleisher, their alderman, and Mayor Terry Pool about the issue. Miller tells WGIL the block already isn't safe for children to play around and the added garage will only make it worse.
"It's going to be too close to the street, it is not going to be in line, or conformity with the rest of the neighborhood and it's going to be a safety hazard. We have two small children living right next door, we have three small children across the street, we have people that come down the street faster than they should and I think we're inviting trouble."
Knoxville Mayor Terry Pool, who has spoken to the concerned residents personally and has driven by the property, said he's glad people came to voice their opinion but he says he has spoke with the city attorney and says quote, "what's done is done and now we're stuck with it." |
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| 06 15 09 by Newsroom |
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